Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The An Post network and its services is a fundamental issue. The Minister alluded to An Post's strong brand, and every Member of this House has something to say about An Post, but unfortunately it has been losing retail units. In terms of the transfer of electronic payments from the Department of Social Protection outside An Post, we will not turn the river against the hill.

An Post must move its business in such a way that electronic payments can be made to their savings accounts and then accessed by the individual through an ATM card of some type. An Post must move on with that because communities are losing their post offices and there are knock-on consequences from that. This is a State contract and it is time the Minister, as the major shareholder in An Post, examined the ways An Post can move on its business. We must ensure every payment can go through An Post because that is what will be required as time goes on. We must ensure An Post is in a position to deal with those payments.

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